6 mins agoBaltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) looked much better in his latest rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, allowed an earned run on five hits while walking one and striking out six in five innings to pick up a win. He threw 77 total pitches in the outing, 49 of which were strikes. Although his fastball velocity isn't quite where it needs to be, this was an encouraging outing for the 27-year-old after he allowed four earned runs while walking three in 3 1/3 innings in his last rehab start. It remains to be seen if the O's want him to make another rehab start as he recovers from an offseason UCL sprain, but after his breakout in 2023, fantasy managers in mixed leagues should scoop him up if he's still on the waiver wire. Bradish is getting close to returning to Baltimore.Source: Milb.com
12 mins agoCincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl (wrist) is working out at the team's complex in Arizona while he ramps up his baseball activities. Manager David Bell said Friedly could start playing in games this weekend as a defensive player only. If he continues to progress, he could start bunting in games this weekend. By the middle of next week, he could be ready to start a minor-league rehab assignment by joining Triple-A Louisville when they visit St. Paul. Bell projected Friedl would need between one and two weeks before being ready to return. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent has yet to make his 2024 debut with the Reds because of the injury. In a career-high 138 games in 2023, he hit .279/.352/.467 with 18 home runs, 66 RBI and 27 stolen bases in 556 plate appearances.Source: MLB.com
18 mins agoCincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley (illness) was available to come off the bench on Friday night against the Texas Rangers, according to manager David Bell. Fraley has been sidelined with an illness since Sunday. "He's back," Bell said. "I wanted him to go through a full day of work today and not start him. But, he's available off the bench, available to start tomorrow." The 28-year-old left-handed hitter should be back in the starting lineup on Saturday when the team faces Rangers right-hander Michael Lorenzen, but fantasy managers will want to check back for Cincy's lineup. The former second-rounder of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 out of LSU typically starts against righties for the Reds and was hitting a strong .362 (17-for-47) with a homer, four RBI and five steals before his illness.Source: MLB.com
22 mins agoArizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (hamstring) left his start early on Friday against the Seattle Mariners with hamstring tightness, but after the game, both manager Torey Lovullo and Gallen were optimistic that it was just a cramp or spasm. Gallen thinks he might even be able to make his next start. "I didn't feel like it was really too severe, honestly," Gallen said. His next test will come Monday, when he's scheduled to throw his between-starts bullpen session. It's good news that both Gallen and the team don't think his injury are very serious, but it doesn't mean he won't eventually land on the injured list. The 28-year-old gave up three earned runs in five-plus innings on Friday and now has a 3.38 ERA in six starts. If he does make his next scheduled start next Wednesday against the Dodgers, he'll be extra risky in fantasy in a tough matchup.Source: MLB.com - Steve Gilbert
26 mins agoBoston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (knee) has returned to third base on Saturday against the visiting Chicago Cubs, which has allowed outfielder Masataka Yoshida to return to the lineup as the designated hitter against right-hander Ben Brown. Devers is hitting in the two-hole, while Tanaka is batting sixth for the BoSox. Devers missed five games with a knee injury recently but has been hot at the plate since returning, going 7-for-13 with a homer, double, two RBI and three runs scored in three games. He's a must-start anytime he's active. Tanaka, meanwhile, returns to the fold after missing the last four games, although he has appeared as a pinch-hitter. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter has essentially become a DH only for Boston and is hitting .233 (17-for-73) with two homers and 10 RBI to start the year.Source: WEEI - Rob Bradford
32 mins agoToronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer and utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa are both out of the starting lineup on Saturday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. This will be Springer's first off day since April 19. The 34-year-old veteran has gone 7-for-28 with a home run since then to drop his season line to .228/.322/.356 with three home runs, five RBI, three stolen bases and 11 runs scored in 101 at-bats. With Springer sitting on Saturday, rookie Addison Barger will make just his third major-league start, playing in right field and batting ninth against Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow. Barger, the former sixth-round pick in 2018, has yet to get a hit in his first eight MLB at-bats and won't be a recommended DFS option in the nine-hole in a tough matchup.Source: Toronto Blue Jays
36 mins agoLos Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy, shortstop Gavin Lux and outfielder Josh Outman, who all hit left-handed, are out of Saturday's lineup against left-hander Yusei Kikuchi and the Toronto Blue Jays.read more...
3 hours agoSan Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey blasted his third home run of the year in Friday's 3-0 win over the Pirates. It was Bailey's only hit in the game but it came at the right time. In a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the ninth, Pirates closer David Bednar walked the first batter he saw, then gave up a single, bringing Bailey to the plate. The 24-year-old deposited a four-seam fastball over the right field wall for the 3-0 walk-off win. Bailey is having a solid season at the plate thus far, slashing .297/.365/.516 with five doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, six runs scored, and a stolen base in 75 plate appearances. For fantasy, however, those numbers don't really move the needle and he can be left to the waiver wire for now.Source: ESPN
3 hours agoSeattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger smacked a grand slam in Friday's 6-1 win over the Diamondbacks. It was his lone hit on the day, but it was a big one that broke the game open. It came after starter Zac Gallen left the game and with Mariners up just 2-1. It was the 33-year-old's fourth home run of the year and he's now up to 18 RBI, although the batting average sits at just .244. There was hope the veteran would return to some semblance of his 2021 form with a return to Seattle but it hasn't come to fruition to this point. The good thing is it's a long season and so far he's still healthy. Regardless, until he shows signs of a breakout he's probably only worth a roster spot in deeper leagues.Source: ESPN
4 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers third baseman Joey Ortiz hit his first career home run in Friday's 7-6 victory over the Yankees, and also drove in the winning run with a walk-off single in the 11th inning. It was all part of a 2-for-4 day at the plate that included a sacrifice fly and four runs batted in. The 25-year-old is now batting .264 on the year with a double, a triple, a HR, seven RBI, and a solid .355 OBP thanks to his eight walks (ten strikeouts). Still, he's probably best left to the waiver wire but can be an interesting value play in DFS depending on the matchup.Source: ESPN
4 hours agoChicago White Sox starting pitching prospect Jake Eder tallied eight strikeouts across six innings of two-run ball on Friday. Eder allowed just four hits and two free passes. This was the 25-year-old best performance of the season, lowering his ERA to 5.12 and WHIP to 1.66. The southpaw is once again averaging over a strikeout per inning this with 24 in 19 ⅓ innings, as he has done every season of his professional career. Eder struggled in Double-A last season and the early part of this year, but it looks like he is beginning to turn the corner after a strong showing on Friday. The tenth-ranked prospect in the Chicago system will have to continue to post outings like this to reach Triple-A this summer. If he can do so, he could be in contention to reach the major leagues towards the end of the season.Source: MiLB.com
4 hours agoCincinnati Reds starting pitching prospect Rhett Lowder threw six innings, allowed one unearned run, three hits, one free pass, and struck out nine on Friday. The 22-year-old has been one of the best pitchers in the minor leagues this season, and Friday was just another example of that. The number two prospect in the Reds system has posted a dominant 1.86 ERA,0.98 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 19 ⅓ innings. The 31st overall prospect in baseball should be in Double-A very soon and could push for a late-season call-up to the majors to join the Reds for the stretch run. Lowder should be rostered in all dynasty leagues and could be worth looking at in redraft formats if he reaches Double and Triple-A soon.Source: MiLB.com
4 hours agoChicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga picked up his fourth win of the season in Friday's 7-1 victory over the Red Sox. The lefty looked fantastic again, going six-and-a-third innings allowing five hits, walking one, and striking out seven batters. A solo home run to Tyler O'Neill was the only real blemish in the outing. He's now got a sparkling 0.98 ERA through five starts with a 0.80 WHIP and has struck out 28 batters to just three walks in 27 2/3 IP. The southpaw's next start lines up with the Mets next Wednesday at Citi Field.Source: ESPN
4 hours agoCincinnati Reds shortstop prospect Carlos Jorge went 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBI on Friday. This game improves Jorge's slash line to a solid .242/.296/.455. The 20-year-old got things started for Dayton in the first inning with a one-run double. Then in the sixth, Jorge laced a two-run double, further extending the Dayton lead. The eighth overall prospect in the Cincinnati system capped the game off with a solo shot in the seventh. Jorge could be promoted to Double-A later this summer and could even make a push to Triple-A. However, it is unlikely that he will see time in the majors this season.Source: MiLB.com
5 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith went 4-for-5 in Friday's 12-2 victory over the Blue Jays, with two of his four hits going for extra bases, including a double and his second home run of the season. The 2023 All-Star also drove in three runs and scored three times. This was the second straight game Smith has recorded four hits, raising his season slash line to .376/.413/.527 and putting himself in position as the third-highest-scoring backstop for fantasy thus far. The Dodgers face Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on Saturday night. Smith is hitting a scorching .520/.581/.680 against lefties so far this season and is 1-for-3 off Kikuchi in his career.Source: ESPN